Action1
8.8/10
MSP Compared score
- Starting price
- $4/endpoint/mo
- Reviews
- 4.8/5 (~300 G2 reviews)
- Free trial
- Free tier + 15-day full trial
- Deployment
- Cloud
- Best for
- SMB and MSP teams whose #1 job is patching (free up to 200 endpoints)
Best Patch Management Software · 2026
Action1 vs 
ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus Action1 vs ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus: on our data-weighted scoring, Action1 edges ahead (8.8 vs 7.7/10). Action1 starts at $4/endpoint/mo and is best for SMB and MSP teams whose #1 job is patching (free up to 200 endpoints); ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus starts at Free tier available and is best for budget-conscious teams wanting on-prem or cloud patching with deep reporting. Choose Action1 for the stronger overall track record; consider ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus if its pricing model or fit matches your environment better. Side-by-side table below.
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ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus
7.7/10
MSP Compared score
- Starting price
- Free tier available
- Reviews
- 4.3/5 (~80 G2 reviews)
- Free trial
- Free tier + 30 days
- Deployment
- Cloud + on-prem
- Best for
- Budget-conscious teams wanting on-prem or cloud patching with deep reporting
Strengths at a glance
Six criteria, each scored 0–10 on the same scale from real review data, public pricing and feature coverage. See our methodology →
| Criterion | Action1 | ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Editorial | 8.8 | 7.7 |
| User reviews | 9.6 | 8.6 |
| Adoption | 6.6 | 5.1 |
| Affordability | 9.5 | 9.5 |
| Feature breadth | 6.0 | 5.0 |
| Ease of trial | 10.0 | 10.0 |
Action1 vs ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus: head-to-head
| Action1 | ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $4/endpoint/mo | Free tier available |
| Pricing model | per endpoint | per endpoint |
| Free trial / tier | Free tier + 15-day full trial | Free tier + 30 days |
| Best for | SMB and MSP teams whose #1 job is patching (free up to 200 endpoints) | Budget-conscious teams wanting on-prem or cloud patching with deep reporting |
| Deployment | Cloud | Cloud + on-prem |
| G2 rating | 4.8/5 (300) | 4.3/5 (80) |
| Capterra rating | — | — |
| Our score | 8.8 | 7.7 |
Choose Action1 if…
You need smb and msp teams whose #1 job is patching (free up to 200 endpoints).
✓ Pros
- Genuinely free up to 200 endpoints with no feature gating
- Cloud-native — no on-prem servers
- Strong third-party app catalog
✕ Cons
- Windows-first (limited macOS depth)
- Support is a separate paid add-on on Growth
- Scales by endpoint count
Choose ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus if…
You need budget-conscious teams wanting on-prem or cloud patching with deep reporting.
✓ Pros
- Free for up to 20 computers
- Very large third-party catalog
- On-prem option for regulated environments
✕ Cons
- Dated UI
- Pricing is bundle/quote-based
- On-prem needs maintenance
In depth
In Depth
Pricing
| Aspect | Action1 | ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Per-endpoint | Per-endpoint (bundled pricing) |
| Free Tier | Up to 200 endpoints, all features | Up to 20 computers |
| Trial | 15 days full access | 30 days |
| Starting Cost | $4/endpoint/mo (Growth tier, annual) | ~$245/yr for 50 computers (LAN) |
| Enterprise | Custom quote (1,000+) | Custom quote (WAN + advanced) |
Action1’s free tier is dramatically more generous—200 free endpoints versus ManageEngine’s 20. For teams at 201–1,000 endpoints, Action1 offers transparent per-endpoint pricing; ManageEngine requires bundle quotes, making budgeting opaque. Action1 wins on pricing clarity and free-tier value.
Features & Deployment
Action1 emphasizes cloud-native simplicity: OS + third-party app patching, CVE/CVSS-driven risk prioritization, peer-to-peer distribution, vulnerability scanning, and remote access. It’s fundamentally a cloud-only platform—no infrastructure overhead.
ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus offers deeper configurability: 850+ third-party apps (larger catalog), test-and-approve workflows, patch decline/rollback, and granular compliance reporting. Critically, it supports both on-prem and cloud deployments, making it suitable for highly regulated or air-gapped environments.
Verdict: Action1 is sleeker and faster to deploy; ManageEngine offers flexibility and control for complex compliance requirements.
Ratings & Our Score
| Platform | G2 Score | Review Count | Our Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Action1 | 4.8/5 | 300 | 8.8/10 |
| ManageEngine | 4.3/5 | 80 | 7.7/10 |
Action1’s higher G2 rating and substantially larger review base reflect stronger market traction among SMBs and MSPs. Our scoring reflects Action1’s modern UX and aggressive free tier, offset by Windows-first focus. ManageEngine’s lower score partly reflects its dated interface, though it remains competitive for teams prioritizing compliance and on-prem control.
Verdict
Choose Action1 if you’re an SMB, MSP, or startup prioritizing speed-to-value and transparency. The free 200-endpoint tier is unmatched; cloud deployment requires no infrastructure; per-endpoint pricing scales predictably.
Choose ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus if you need on-prem deployment for regulatory isolation, have 50+ computers budgeted for patching, or require advanced test-and-rollback workflows. Accept a legacy UI in exchange for deeper configurability and a massive third-party app library.
Frequently asked questions
- Action1 vs ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus: which is better?
- Action1 vs ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus: on our data-weighted scoring, Action1 edges ahead (8.8 vs 7.7/10). Action1 starts at $4/endpoint/mo and is best for SMB and MSP teams whose #1 job is patching (free up to 200 endpoints); ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus starts at Free tier available and is best for budget-conscious teams wanting on-prem or cloud patching with deep reporting.
- Is Action1 cheaper than ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus?
- Action1 starts at $4/endpoint/mo and ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus starts at Free tier available (see the pricing rows for models and limits).
Data as of September 17, 2026. Sources: action1.com, manageengine.com. Figures are pulled from public vendor and security data and refreshed automatically.